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Sharks will consider Alberts

Pieter Jordaan

Johannesburg – The Sharks will consider loose forward acquisition Willem Alberts for their friendly matches next week and challenge SA Rugby to change the regulation prohibiting this.

The Golden Lions Rugby Union (GLRU) and the Sharks are currently in a contractual dispute about the services of Alberts and his former Lions team-mate Louis Ludik. The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has already indicated that it will not step in to resolve the matter.

Alberts and Ludik have still not received clearance certificates from the GLRU and SARU’s regulations prevent players from turning out for the Sharks while they are registered at the Lions.

However, Sharks chief executive Brian van Zyl expressed his disappointment on Wednesday that SARU did not want to step in to resolve the dispute.

He said that the Sharks would not hesitate considering Alberts for next week’s friendly matches against the Western Force and Stormers, even if Alberts may not be available because of his honeymoon.

Ludik is still recovering from a knee injury and will only be able to play in February again.

“We would like to resolve the matter. I think it’s rather a matter of SA Rugby having to revisit their regulations. It’s disappointing that they do not want to get involved,” he said.

He does not believe that arbitration, which may ultimately be necessary to settle the dispute, will keep Alberts and Ludik off the field.

“There was already arbitration in the Jaque Fourie case and the documentation is there for all to see,” he said.

The Fourie case prevented the player from playing in the Currie Cup for the Lions or Western Province.

Just like then, the GLRU maintains that it has contracts with Alberts and Ludik, while the Sharks dispute that.

SARU legal manager Christo Ferreira said this week that they will have to investigate the matter if a complaint is received when the Sharks pick the players.

The Sharks leave for Cape Town on Sunday to play in the friendly matches.

Alberts is expected to return from his honeymoon this weekend.
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